The Long War
Chapter Four: Wave Front
"Lord Krunj, we are surrounded. The Romulan block any advance towards our
home systems deeper in the empire. We could make it clear if we cut across the
Federation border, but the cowardly worms are watching the border. No doubt they
will attack us without warning if they can. Now that the Romulan Dogs have
weakened us the Federation will gladly exploit any advantage."
"They are treacherous, dishonorable p'taks. There is no doubt of that. But
that doesn't matter. We must fight no matter what way we go, and it is not the
Klingon way, but we will choose the weaker opponent and attack them." Many
looked uneasy at this choice; the Klingon way was to attack the fiercest foe
head on, not attack the weaker foe and run.
"My Lord, I have new sensor data incoming. We detect two Heavy Cruisers,
three Light Cruisers, three destroyers and six Frigates." As his lord and the
commander of the Klingon fleet considered this information the warrior studied
his screen intently. "The first Heavy Cruiser is Belknap class," he spoke the
odd sounding human word, "the second is Constitution class." He paused again as
the data continued to flow in from his probes. He spoke again, this time almost
growling, "The Constitution class ship is the Enterprise." The name hung in the
air for a few seconds as all considered this sudden development, and what it
meant.
A low rumbling growl started to fill the bridge. Krunj spoke the thought
on everyone's mind, a single word only. "Kirk."
"Captain," the young JG called from her spot at communications. "Update
from Captain Spock. He should arrive in two hours time." The arrival of Spock
would bring Kirk's Task Force up to full strength. In addition to his personal
command, the Constellation class starship Newton, Spock was also bringing three
Soyuz class Heavy Destroyers. "Acknowledge message receipt and append a copy of
the latest status report." Kirk had walked on to the bridge ten minutes ago and
was sitting in his command chair.
This was supposed to be his sleep shift. But some instinct had woken him
up. In his years as a starship captain he'd learned that listening to your
instincts was one of the most important traits a captain could have. He couldn't
count how many times they'd saved his life and the life of his crew.
And right now those same instincts were telling him something was about to
happen. He knew, by some unknown method, that something was going to happen,
something bad, and it was going to be soon.
"Lieutenant Charmichel, order all ships to increase readiness to level
three." Each ship would now begin preparing for combat. The command crews and
all department heads would be woken. Offensive systems would be primed for
activation and all passive defense systems would be engaged.
If a level two was ordered offensive systems would be armed and all
defensive systems would be up at full power. The full crew would be ordered to
battle stations and would be ready for war. Level one is weapons free, all
systems to maximum and any unknown or enemy targets may be engaged within the
Rules of Engagement.
Charmichel transmitted the necessary orders to the Constantinople and
Hibernia who then transferred the necessary orders to the ships of Squadrons Two
and Three. She also sent the same orders to the ships of Squadron One.
Lisa Charmichel couldn't wait for Captain Spock to arrive. Once he arrived
he and his ship would take over the responsibilities of commanding Squadron One.
That would greatly decrease her workload, and she couldn't help thinking that
that was always a good thing.
Lisa had only been stationed on the enterprise for a few weeks before they
shipped out for the Romulan border. She'd never served with Captain Kirk, or on
a starship for that matter, before. Her last assignment had been to Starbase 28
as a Junior Communications Technician; it had also been her first assignment.
The smallish blonde didn't know why Captain Kirk had suddenly decided to
walk onto the bridge in the middle of his sleep period and order the task force
to prepare for battle. The odd thing was she didn't even question it in the
slightest. She'd grown up on the latest tales of Captain Kirk's newest exploit;
she'd just started attending the academy when he saved Earth from the mysterious
alien probe.
With a few more switches thrown she began to wake the Enterprise's senior
officers. By the time she'd notified the final department head, Commander Uhura
had reached the bridge. With a smooth nod Charmichel slid out of the chair and
moved to the secondary Communication console to the side.
The rest of the bridge command staff had already arrived and Captain Scott
had signaled Captain Kirk that he was ready in engineering. All departments had
signaled that they were now at a level three readiness.
Whitehall spoke first. "Captain, I'm detecting something on long range
sensors. Energy signature indeterminate, but the bearing is in the direction of
the former Klingon Empire."
Kirk reacted instantly, almost like he'd known Whitehall was going to say
that. "Ready a probe. I want that contact firmed up and positively identified.
We can't afford any kind of mistakes."
The atmosphere on the bridge was tense as the probe sped outwards. Little
was said beyond what was necessary to accomplish their duties. Then, "Incoming
data feed from the probe." A pause as he studied the data. "It's a small Klingon
Fleet. Several cruisers and multiple Birds of Prey."
"On screen." The incoming data feed was now displayed on the main view
screen. "Overlay astrogational data." A starchart was then placed over the probe
data. "Now project current course of targets."
They were headed straight for them. "Commander Whitehall, speed of Klingon
formation and estimated time of arrival?"
"Speed is a steady warp six. ETA is thirty five minutes." Too soon; they'd
have to do it without Spock and his reinforcements.
Kirk began to bark out a rapid-fire stream of orders. "Commander
Whitehall, transfer full probe date to all ships. Commander Uhura, order the
Task Force to level two readiness."
He then hit a switch on his command chair. Standard lighting throughout
the ship was turned off and was replaced by overhead red lights and flashing red
lights on the bulkheads. "Red Alert. All Hands to Battle stations. Red Alert."
Gunnery Sergeant Rob Wilson woke when the first klaxon began to ring. By
the time Kirk had finished speaking he was dressed and heading out the door.
At a fast jog he reached the armory. As his marines came running, each
grabbed a helmet and body armor and were also handled a phaser pistol and phaser
carbine.
"Move it, Corporal! Get your ass in gear and get your squad down to
engineering. Move it people!" Wilson continued to yell invectives at his marines
as they arrived. They'd run in, throw the armor on over duty uniforms and grab
their weapons.
Then he'd see them disappear out the door into the rush of sailors going
to their battle stations. Once everyone was armed and had reported ready he took
off at a steady jog for Damage Control Three, which was now being used as
command post by Colonel Mitchell and his staff.
"Sir, all marines are armed and ready." Wilson then stepped up and studied
the various displays; they showed a complete schematic of the Enterprise and had
the location of each marine squad superimposed over the display.
"What's with the alert, sir?" he asked Colonel Mitchell.
"Kirk ordered a level three alert about twenty minutes ago. I considered
waking you, but I didn't see any reason for a level three readiness state, so I
let you sleep." His expression altered a little bit. "I should have known better
then to second-guess Kirk. He launched a probe that detected an incoming Klingon
Fleet. That's when he ordered Red Alert."
"Klingons. We should order the men to be alert for that. Klingons are
vicious in close quarters combat." In his younger days Wilson had spent his time
serving on a customs cutter guarding the Klingon border; several times he'd been
forced to fight Klingons hand-to-hand. It wasn't something he remembered fondly.
"Private Smith, alert all guard teams to be prepared for attempted
boarding operations by Klingons." Wilson, Mitchell and Rathel then began a
discussion of the best way to counter any boarding attempts by Klingon ships.
"Captain. All departments report ready; the ship is at battle stations."
That was Commander Uhura speaking. The bridge was fully manned and a squad of
marines had taken position in strategic spots.
Lieutenant Charmichel spoke next. "All ships Squadron One report ready in
all respects. Commanders Squadrons two and three also report ready in all
respects."
Now it was Kirk's turn. "Plot intercept course with Klingon force. Make
sure we stay on our side of the border."
Lieutenant Clerrette had been ready for that command. He only needed to
insert a few variables and he was done. "Course plotted. Ready to engage on your
signal."
"Commander Uhura, transfer the plot to all vessels." Uhura could be seen
pressing several buttons in sequence and then speaking a few words into her
microphone.
"Plot transferred and delivery confirmed. All ships report ready on your
mark."
"Set course. Warp five."
"Aye Sir." Enterprise and her sister ships of Task Force Twenty-Two moved
almost as one as they went to warp, moving at speeds Einstein had said were
impossible only a couple centuries ago. They sped out of the barren star system
and into deep space.
Chapter Four: Wave Front
"Lord Krunj, we are surrounded. The Romulan block any advance towards our
home systems deeper in the empire. We could make it clear if we cut across the
Federation border, but the cowardly worms are watching the border. No doubt they
will attack us without warning if they can. Now that the Romulan Dogs have
weakened us the Federation will gladly exploit any advantage."
"They are treacherous, dishonorable p'taks. There is no doubt of that. But
that doesn't matter. We must fight no matter what way we go, and it is not the
Klingon way, but we will choose the weaker opponent and attack them." Many
looked uneasy at this choice; the Klingon way was to attack the fiercest foe
head on, not attack the weaker foe and run.
"My Lord, I have new sensor data incoming. We detect two Heavy Cruisers,
three Light Cruisers, three destroyers and six Frigates." As his lord and the
commander of the Klingon fleet considered this information the warrior studied
his screen intently. "The first Heavy Cruiser is Belknap class," he spoke the
odd sounding human word, "the second is Constitution class." He paused again as
the data continued to flow in from his probes. He spoke again, this time almost
growling, "The Constitution class ship is the Enterprise." The name hung in the
air for a few seconds as all considered this sudden development, and what it
meant.
A low rumbling growl started to fill the bridge. Krunj spoke the thought
on everyone's mind, a single word only. "Kirk."
"Captain," the young JG called from her spot at communications. "Update
from Captain Spock. He should arrive in two hours time." The arrival of Spock
would bring Kirk's Task Force up to full strength. In addition to his personal
command, the Constellation class starship Newton, Spock was also bringing three
Soyuz class Heavy Destroyers. "Acknowledge message receipt and append a copy of
the latest status report." Kirk had walked on to the bridge ten minutes ago and
was sitting in his command chair.
This was supposed to be his sleep shift. But some instinct had woken him
up. In his years as a starship captain he'd learned that listening to your
instincts was one of the most important traits a captain could have. He couldn't
count how many times they'd saved his life and the life of his crew.
And right now those same instincts were telling him something was about to
happen. He knew, by some unknown method, that something was going to happen,
something bad, and it was going to be soon.
"Lieutenant Charmichel, order all ships to increase readiness to level
three." Each ship would now begin preparing for combat. The command crews and
all department heads would be woken. Offensive systems would be primed for
activation and all passive defense systems would be engaged.
If a level two was ordered offensive systems would be armed and all
defensive systems would be up at full power. The full crew would be ordered to
battle stations and would be ready for war. Level one is weapons free, all
systems to maximum and any unknown or enemy targets may be engaged within the
Rules of Engagement.
Charmichel transmitted the necessary orders to the Constantinople and
Hibernia who then transferred the necessary orders to the ships of Squadrons Two
and Three. She also sent the same orders to the ships of Squadron One.
Lisa Charmichel couldn't wait for Captain Spock to arrive. Once he arrived
he and his ship would take over the responsibilities of commanding Squadron One.
That would greatly decrease her workload, and she couldn't help thinking that
that was always a good thing.
Lisa had only been stationed on the enterprise for a few weeks before they
shipped out for the Romulan border. She'd never served with Captain Kirk, or on
a starship for that matter, before. Her last assignment had been to Starbase 28
as a Junior Communications Technician; it had also been her first assignment.
The smallish blonde didn't know why Captain Kirk had suddenly decided to
walk onto the bridge in the middle of his sleep period and order the task force
to prepare for battle. The odd thing was she didn't even question it in the
slightest. She'd grown up on the latest tales of Captain Kirk's newest exploit;
she'd just started attending the academy when he saved Earth from the mysterious
alien probe.
With a few more switches thrown she began to wake the Enterprise's senior
officers. By the time she'd notified the final department head, Commander Uhura
had reached the bridge. With a smooth nod Charmichel slid out of the chair and
moved to the secondary Communication console to the side.
The rest of the bridge command staff had already arrived and Captain Scott
had signaled Captain Kirk that he was ready in engineering. All departments had
signaled that they were now at a level three readiness.
Whitehall spoke first. "Captain, I'm detecting something on long range
sensors. Energy signature indeterminate, but the bearing is in the direction of
the former Klingon Empire."
Kirk reacted instantly, almost like he'd known Whitehall was going to say
that. "Ready a probe. I want that contact firmed up and positively identified.
We can't afford any kind of mistakes."
The atmosphere on the bridge was tense as the probe sped outwards. Little
was said beyond what was necessary to accomplish their duties. Then, "Incoming
data feed from the probe." A pause as he studied the data. "It's a small Klingon
Fleet. Several cruisers and multiple Birds of Prey."
"On screen." The incoming data feed was now displayed on the main view
screen. "Overlay astrogational data." A starchart was then placed over the probe
data. "Now project current course of targets."
They were headed straight for them. "Commander Whitehall, speed of Klingon
formation and estimated time of arrival?"
"Speed is a steady warp six. ETA is thirty five minutes." Too soon; they'd
have to do it without Spock and his reinforcements.
Kirk began to bark out a rapid-fire stream of orders. "Commander
Whitehall, transfer full probe date to all ships. Commander Uhura, order the
Task Force to level two readiness."
He then hit a switch on his command chair. Standard lighting throughout
the ship was turned off and was replaced by overhead red lights and flashing red
lights on the bulkheads. "Red Alert. All Hands to Battle stations. Red Alert."
Gunnery Sergeant Rob Wilson woke when the first klaxon began to ring. By
the time Kirk had finished speaking he was dressed and heading out the door.
At a fast jog he reached the armory. As his marines came running, each
grabbed a helmet and body armor and were also handled a phaser pistol and phaser
carbine.
"Move it, Corporal! Get your ass in gear and get your squad down to
engineering. Move it people!" Wilson continued to yell invectives at his marines
as they arrived. They'd run in, throw the armor on over duty uniforms and grab
their weapons.
Then he'd see them disappear out the door into the rush of sailors going
to their battle stations. Once everyone was armed and had reported ready he took
off at a steady jog for Damage Control Three, which was now being used as
command post by Colonel Mitchell and his staff.
"Sir, all marines are armed and ready." Wilson then stepped up and studied
the various displays; they showed a complete schematic of the Enterprise and had
the location of each marine squad superimposed over the display.
"What's with the alert, sir?" he asked Colonel Mitchell.
"Kirk ordered a level three alert about twenty minutes ago. I considered
waking you, but I didn't see any reason for a level three readiness state, so I
let you sleep." His expression altered a little bit. "I should have known better
then to second-guess Kirk. He launched a probe that detected an incoming Klingon
Fleet. That's when he ordered Red Alert."
"Klingons. We should order the men to be alert for that. Klingons are
vicious in close quarters combat." In his younger days Wilson had spent his time
serving on a customs cutter guarding the Klingon border; several times he'd been
forced to fight Klingons hand-to-hand. It wasn't something he remembered fondly.
"Private Smith, alert all guard teams to be prepared for attempted
boarding operations by Klingons." Wilson, Mitchell and Rathel then began a
discussion of the best way to counter any boarding attempts by Klingon ships.
"Captain. All departments report ready; the ship is at battle stations."
That was Commander Uhura speaking. The bridge was fully manned and a squad of
marines had taken position in strategic spots.
Lieutenant Charmichel spoke next. "All ships Squadron One report ready in
all respects. Commanders Squadrons two and three also report ready in all
respects."
Now it was Kirk's turn. "Plot intercept course with Klingon force. Make
sure we stay on our side of the border."
Lieutenant Clerrette had been ready for that command. He only needed to
insert a few variables and he was done. "Course plotted. Ready to engage on your
signal."
"Commander Uhura, transfer the plot to all vessels." Uhura could be seen
pressing several buttons in sequence and then speaking a few words into her
microphone.
"Plot transferred and delivery confirmed. All ships report ready on your
mark."
"Set course. Warp five."
"Aye Sir." Enterprise and her sister ships of Task Force Twenty-Two moved
almost as one as they went to warp, moving at speeds Einstein had said were
impossible only a couple centuries ago. They sped out of the barren star system
and into deep space.